davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

across the aisle and saw the young Iady's head
had fallen over on the back OF her seat and
hung only by the skin
The sight of tho dead and wounded lying In
the adjacent fields was horrible. They were
lying in littlo heaps OF about a dozen, all hav-
ing been killed In different manner Tho on
tire side of one mans face would be mashed in,
while hole as large as your hst in the ioro-
head Of another would show whore timber
had penetrated. Three-fourths of the dead
mover knew what killed them. 1t was sight 1
never want to look upon again. There were
young ladies in picnic dress, with their white
skirts saturated with blood and the front OF
their faces mashed beyond recognition. one
young looking mother had held her baby in her
arms, when a timber, striking the child In the
back impaled both victims in instant death
The mothers face did not bear n scratch, but
the expression upon it will haunt me to tho
grave"
Mr.. Church said thattho action of the railroad
officials after the accident was condemned by
almost everybody Hundreds of people got as
far as Forest on their way to tho wreck but mad
to walk the rest Of the distance six miles.
Officials rode up and down tho tracks, and
few slow trains brought in the dead but tho
wounded and dying were left ON the ground,
with no relief except that which their partners
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
NUMBER Is.

time by making another place th4t side OF
ChatBw0fth But he went TO sleep, passing the
place whore ho was TO get OF. not being wax
eDed until by the accident he was killed out
right.
-When we reached the place where the acct
dent occurred, tho first thing we saw was pile
Of mashed-up coaches AS high as q telegraph
pole. The top Of the second chair-car shot up
ON top Of this, standing like a monument at
least fifteen feet highor. We arrived Just I'm
time to see Mr.. Murphy, a hotel-koeper from
Galesburg. climb out OF a hole in the top OF tho
first chair-car, which was just in view, upon q
pile OF broken timber Mt the top Of the heap.
He pulled out his wife and baby, uninjured
but almost exhausted from having been penned
up for nearly twelve hours. 1t was with great
difficulty theY were assisted TO the ground.
Mr.. Murphy then went back into the hole and
brought out alive littlo baby. He had torn
IL from the arms of dead mother. After that
hs helped out an aged woman whose back had
been injured. These fve. together with two
others, were all that wero rescued from that car.
when the hotel-keeper came down asked
him how IL happened that he was not killed,
He replied that when the crash came his wife
was sitting in one seat and himself and the
baby were in the one just behind, near tho
front OF the car. Tie baby was knocked off tho
seat and no stopped to pick hOr up as they shot
into the mass OF ruins ahoad. just at that
moment, he said, a timber penetrated the car,
shooting across the place where no had boen
sitting aud struck young lady who sat oppo-
site In the neck He was thus pinned down by
the timber, which also protected him from
being smashed und saved his life. He looked
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
A Thrilling story.

Mrs Welsh the Peoria law librarian tells
thrilling tale She says that when the chair
coaches telescoped she was thrown forward,
fat She could neither move nor speak ner
hands were outstretched, and she lay perfectly
conscious for several hours upon her face. The
awful weight of beam crushed her chest
against the rubbish beneath, and when the re-
dead The groans of the dying filled her soul
with untold horror and anguish, and the shrieks
OF girl cruelty pinned Immediately above
piercod every fiber within her. Ono man
seized her ankles and tuggod furiously to get
her out and gave it up. Sho heard him
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
The MvsterIOus Suicide.

Inquiries regarding the identity OF the man
who shot himself to be rid Of his agony are
without avail. The best information concern
ing him was obtained Sunday from man from
senger in one Of the sleepers. Il was awak-
ened, he said, "by bump, as was thrown
against the end of the berth and OF course was
soon up and dressed and doing what could TO
assist the wounded. l heard cries in the field,
and going to the source found young man OF
about twenty whose leg was so broken that the
dreadful / went to him, and no said he hao
got out of a wrecked car himself and crawied
To where he then was. got mattress ana
pillows for him and some water, and q lady
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
shnckInr Incidents.

Both Mr.. Kirk and Mr. Wadsworth relate
many shocking incidents OF the work OF resou-
ing which came under their observation Tho
latter tells of finding woman OF singular
hardihood who was caught in the tender close
to the engine Both legs were crushed, but she
managed to sit up, and watched aud advised
the men who were saving tho timbcrs TO re-
Lease her In the end OF one car where Mr.
Kirk worked among the bodies no less than
twenty .nine doad wore taken out This car
hnd gone inside another car and It's occupants
had all been iamu e1 together at one end. The
car of superintendent Armstrong was IN tine
thick OF the wreck and was crushed 10 pieces,
vet mono Of its occupants wore injured beyond
scratches This IL accounted for by tho cir
cumstance that there was little in the car To
hurt any one. Its slight contents did not
make crush grinding and close that escape
Mr.. Divine, of ElIenvile, N. Y, was in tho
second sleeper from the front. He saw much
OF the tragedy and his account is graphic Il
had not retired, said no, when the first shock
came. / had just taken the button from my
collar and was going forward with my un-
dresi ing whom felt the car culver and divin-
ell at once that there was n collision. drop
ped fiat i'm tho alley and was scarcely Jared
The shock over, got up and went TO the front
of the car where tho first thing that caught my
eve was the burning oulvert called all the
men in tire car to turh out as quickly as pos
sible TO aid those in ths wrecked day coaches,
| and advised all tho ladies to dress them
| selves as IL might not bo possible to moyo
| the sleeper Ia the case OF the fre extending.
| All this time, from the moment OF the col
| iision, tho cries OF the wounded caro-
buck in perfect roar got into
| one car and found the little Snedaker boy,
| VIII 40 leg has since been anputated. Inext
| founl little Bertha Blandin, whose mothor was
killed Tho first thing tho little one did when
| l lifted hor was to beg me to find her mamma,
/ and promIscd to do So though was hopeless
| as could SEQ threo dead women I'm the car
| then stumbled upon woman whose legs were
twisted togothor In the tmbers, though they
| did not seem 20 DO broken. I leaned her back
| against n cushion while / holped boy out,
| and when turned back TO release her sho was
/ wero bloodicd when I had reached my arm
| around her neck to raise her, ana suppose her
| head must have been crushed, though did not
/ notice it There wRs simply no end TO such
| acanea and such experiences.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

The moon has risen from her downy couch
That overlooks the glimmering eastern sea
And now she pours her radiance softly down
Upon each river. hill and dewy lea.
Upon tho grim and rugged mountain side
She paints with skillful touch q picture fair,
That seems to shift like transformation scenes,
And in its place rise others yet moro rare.
Her light falls gently on tho somber Lake,
As II to WOO tho lilies ON fits breast;
And they would think IL day and bloom again,
That she might gaze on their white loveliness.
Her rays seek vainly 20 o'ercome the gloom
OF forost shade, whero hide the modest
ferns
Whore myrtle creeps among the clammy moss,
And ivy twines, and red-eyed fox-fire burns.
On yondor church-yard her bright rays stream
down,
And touch tho namoloss mounds with tender
grace;
But where huge slab marks the proud mans
grave,
shadow falls across his resting place.
But now sho hides her face behind a cloud,
And those fair visions fade before my sight
And all the earth, and all tho sky and sea,
Is plunged again in darker, gloomier night.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

Mr.. p. @. Church. n commercial traveller for
n New York hardware house, relates many IN.
cidents of the dinaAter. "A friend and myself, '
said ho, -thought we would take run over,
but wo nevcr expected 10 see what wo after
ward did.
AT Chatsworth there was a row OF dead
bodies living sido by side upon the depot plat
form. piece Of paper pinned 10 the breast
gave tho name OF each one. The first body wo
enmo 10 was that OF n Chicago drummer, whose
nama can't remember, but no was running
for q largo Wholesale grocery house here. We
had mat him tho day before. aud afterwaru
ilttIs town above Psoria, intsrding 70 save
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
PIundering the Dead.

Mrs. Charles Carlton, of Oneida, one Of the
survivors, corroborated the stories of robberies
committed and saws that there were instances
in which the vandals cut of the fingers OT Inn
prisoned women TO secure the rings. -Four men
are stated to have swarmed to the front inn
mediately after the disaster, and to have en-
gagged in the awful sacrilege OF stripping the
desolato dead under cover of darkness and con-
fusion. That such impious pillage prevailed is
not to DO denied. Mr.. ii. ID. Gould, General
EEsiGht and Passenger Agent OF the road,
desist. Another scoundrei caught IN tne
act said he was merely securing memsnto
of the wreck j. ID. McFadden, one OF Pc
oria's dead was robbed OF 500: Mrs. Deals
rings were stripped from her hngers. MIS-.
unhurt f. ID. Weinette's pockets were turned
inside out when his body was found and his
watch and $3.50 were gone. The wife OF capt.
band was stripped of $3.50, and there are
other cases. The entire zimmerman family,
three In number, were robbed.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

in grief could give them. They lay in the muddy
fields all night, with the rain beating down,
while their groans and crios won't up in vain.
As fast as baggage could be taken from the
cars, no matter whose il was, it was torn open,
and dresses and shirts appropriated Tor
bnndages to dress the wounds of tho suffering.
After the physicians and nurses had finished
with the trunks thieves rihed them and carried
OIL whnt was valuable.
aI myself" said Mr.. Church, saw the head,
shoulders, and arms of young woman hang
ing from a car window, and II man went up ana
began stripping the rings from her dead hngers.
Some OF the passengers interfcred ana maue
him deafat
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
Tho Company I,Inmed.

Ga all sides, too, the railroad officials are
blamed for the accident. IL il charged that
the inspection of the road was neglected. and
this in face Of the fact that it was about to
the ine. People think that the officials should
not nave been content with the ordinary and
regslar inspection Of the track and its sup
poiss. Knowing that hundreds OF souls were
ahout 10 20 over it's limo in one long train it Is
argued that more than usually careful inves-
tigation Of the track should have been made;
Again, the company is charged Win almost
criminal hoodlessness and recklessness in al
lowing a train of such length to so over the
line loaded to its full capacity with human
beings
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

say; Il can't got her, but she Is dead any
way," as he dropped her foot and passed ON TO
relieve those screaming for help. Then another
man came by and grasped the ladys wrist but
to secure q corpse, and IL was not until Mrr.
Wolch lived through hours OF mental anguish
and several moro unsuccessful attempts were
made on her behalf that she was eventually
liberated. And yet this lady 10 but slightly
injured, though prostrated with the trials OF
her imprisonment Her experience Is but a
simple abbreviated prelude to the long list In
tho maelstrom.of horrors that wiring the heaxts
Of the nannla with woe.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
TINE RAILROAD DISASTER.
Scenes and Incidents of the
Terrible Wreck at Chats
worth, Illinois.
Miraculous Escapes and Awful
Experiences of Surviving
Passengers.
Plundcring the Dead-The Rail
road Company bitterly
Cemsured.
At the scene OF enc Wreclt.

A close inspection Of tho wreck causes one TO
wonder how a single person escaped death
Tho momentum OF tho train must have been
appalling. The cars not only telescoped but in
some cases were crushed down into the earth.
On tho flooring OF ono car the bulkhoad OF the
rear car had torn the boards up for distance
OF ten feet Iron work had been torn and
twisted to formless mass, and chairs parti-
tions, and stoves crushed into Fragments. It
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

"I DECLARE, Charley" exclaimed Glare,
"you take the words right out OF my
mouth" "Ob, mammal piped In the little
pitcher, "now 1 know what Clare and Char
lev we're doing when she let him inl
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

watches and SlOJ 70 any one WHO Wouiu so'
them out.
II ne men were worse than tho women. One
woman, although severely wounded, was try
ing with comforting words to sOothe the agony
of the wounded and dying around her. Fer
moro than two hours no one came To their re-
lief and during that tmo many audible pleas
and prayers wero offered for divine assistance
When assistance did como tho first thing asked.
for was wnter. That was an opportunity for
the solhshness OF humanity TO show itself.
They would grab tho wator cup from tho
lips of each other, so euger were they 70 noiston
their own tongues. A small piece Of ico was
given 10 the only living lady In that car and
sho generously shared IL with oil within her
reach 1 felt resigned TO my situation when
heard mon chopping below mo and knew that
would not burn. know then would be ros-
rtfad
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

IT is a common practice in France
TO coat the beams, the ioists and the
under side OF tho floor ng of buildings
with thick coating OF lime wash as o
safeguard against firo. IL is o preven-
tive Of prime ignition, although, il will
not check fire when once under head
way.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
Ar Infau,,. wonderrul Escape.

Mrs. @. A Dewey and little boy, OF Canton,
we're In tho wreck. Sho said that the urchin
was found Denoath heavy timber, strange 70
say, unframed. The only sign OF an accident
about tho bright youngster wore the blood
stains on his clothes.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25
A Remarkable Escape.

Mr. Murphy, farmer living at Cuba, Fulton
County, H., in speaking Of the disaster, says
the train FROM tho timo Il started In the hrst
pIaoo, no did not believe IL wns good railroad
Ing ~ place both engines In trout The torribla
any fraIl bride. The train atarted hall AN
hour late, aud stopped -qnlte q while on the
other aide Of the Hupole nivor. AZ another
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

who had brandy gave him some Of that. He
talked reasonably for moment or two. and
then said he was from Macomb, In Macoupin
County. asked him what more could do for
him. and his only reply was Stay with me-.
Ho seemed to fear being left alone. just then
heard woman screaming and told him L
must go TO her j had gone but little way
when heard pistol-shot. He had shot him
self in the forehead"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

"wALK slower. papa" cried the little
Girl, whose short steps were no match
for those Of her masculine progenitor'
aCant you 90 nice and slow like police
man7D
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-08-25

was as II n cyclone had lifted tho train up
boldly whirled it round with resistless force.
and then dashed IL to the earth in chaotic
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16

At a negro camp meeting at liillsbor-
ough Ills, the other day there was Lit
of realism that carries one hack to the
days of the Passion play. The preacher
gave an eloquent discourse on the prodi-
gal son. During its delivery a young
darby arrayed in picturesque and many
colored tatters to represent the prodigal
son stood in clump Of bushes waiting
for his cue At last the cue came in the
shape of powerful blast on a tin horn.
when he rushed out and fell into the
arms of the old preacher. who enacted
the part of father. Then some sisters
brought forward fatted calf which had
been previously killed and nicely roasted,
and every one began to be merry just as
in the days of old. The story as related
sounds somewhat sacrilegious, but it was
enacted by the colored brethren in entire
good faith and without a suspicion of
tiippancy. New York Tribune.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16
Sheep Jnterest.
AS 10 "lDlE TALK"

The National Stockman has this from
Sol. Wright, Carroll county, Ky; "Mr
Switzler expresses the opinion that it is
idle talk about raising sheep in this
country to compete with South America,
South Africa and Australia. He might
also have truthfully said the same in re-
gard to the manufacturing wooden fabrics
in this country against the competition
with England, Germany and France. If
it is right that the few wooden manufact-
urers should be protected from foreign
cheap wooden fabrics, why is it that the
million wool-growers should not be pro-
tected? Why is it that the free-traders
in wool are not in favor of free trade in
wooden fabrics? Is it because the wealthy
few have more influence in Congress than
the million comparatively? And if the
wool-grower who needs protection is
not to be protected, why should any other
class be protected? While the free traders
in wool give sensible answer to the
above questons?"
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16
FAIR TRADE DETECTIVES.
Explanation of the Business of "Pricer "
a Floor Walkers Mistake.


The other day two pretty young ladies,
both daintily dressed, entered one of our
large drygoods establishments, took the
elevator to the second floor and the fur
department. Here a careful examination
of costly furs resulted in the selection of
sealskin dolman. One of the ladies
opened her purse. At that moment the
floor walker stepped up. He was excited
and spoke harshly. put that dolman
away, William" he said; "and you"
turning to the purchasers, "leave this
store at once" Astonished and terrified,
they stared helplessly at the man. Come,
get out | tell you" he continued, cor
| II have you bounced in short order"
The ladies were thought to be "pricers.'
A detective and several statesmen assisted
in their removal to the street. That this
was a case of mistaken identity became
painfully apparent to the startled firm a
few days later. Suit was brought and
$4,000 was required to settle, in order to
keep the case out of the papers. 1t trans
pired that the ladies were the daughters
Of wealthy residents Of the city. The in
cident serves to show to what lengths
great firms go to detect these ''pricers. "
The term ''pricer" needs explanation
Some of the most successful houses in
Philadelphia and New York keep a small
book entitled: purchasing account"
The pages of this brass bound little vol
ume are scanned only by members of the
firm and by the confidential clerk, who
has exclusive control of this interesting
bit of trade policy. At the close of the
season the amounts which 'balance" run
nearly into six figures. These represent
disbursements for purchasing, for sala-
ries, carriage hire, luncheons, messenger
service and incidentals. and show credits
for goods purchased from rival houses,
ranging from laces, gloves. hosiery, silks
and satins to imported costumes, furs,
NANTES, bric-a-brac. art embroideries,
bronzes and other costly articles.
Some of the names Of ladies which ap-
pear on these pages opposite heavy pur-
chases also appear prominently in the
social world. The competition between
big houses is so keen that the only way
each can keep even with the other is to
employ professional people to go from
one to the other and inquire prices and
compare goods. For obvious reasons the
mission of these people is secret. while
their appearance must be unexception-
able. 1t would not do for common look
ing people to be buying $500 sacques, 81
silks and so velvets every few days
Really fashionable and wealthy people
are required for the delicate service, and
strange as it may seem are readily Sc
cured. Philadelphia Times.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16
POOLING With Nitro-GlYcerine

Nothing fills the small boy of the oil
regions with more glee than to find in
the woods pile of empty nitro-glycerine
cans. which careless and negligent oil
well shooters persist in leaving in the
neighborhood of places where they have
been operating. although there is a severe
law forbidding this secretng of empty
nitro-glycerine cans. There is ALWAYS
enough of the fluid left in the cans after
being emptied into the torpedoes to pro-
vide an explosion more or less violent,
and frequently enough to be exceedingly
destructive. These deadly caches are
often found by hunters passing through
the woods Once a hunter near Warren
shot into bunch of brush in which he
had seen a fox take refuge. The shot
was followed by an explosion that tore
up the ground. and shattered trees for
many feet around and knocked the gum
her senseless. Some one had placed
nitro-glycerine cans in the brush pile,
and the charge from the gun had ex-
ploded them.
Boys are constantly searching for these
hidden cans to have the sport of explod-
ing them, although every year many
oOys are Hldue crlpples LOT lie Dy lnuul-
gence in this sport. and not few are
killed When the dangerous playthings
are found they are set up, one at time
a rod or so away, against a stone or tree
and the boys who have found them throw
stones at them until the force of blow
from one of the stones explodes a can.
The sport is in the loud report and the
way in which earth, stones, and every
thing within the range of the conclusion
are hurled about and in the air. There
is not an oil town from New York state
to the Washington ned that has not one
or more cripr, i or sightless boys. made
so by this reckless triiling with one of the
nost terrible explosives known.-New
Nnr, Sun
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16

For the information of numismatists.
collectors of coins. coin dealers. etc. Di-
rector of the United States Mint Kimball
has prepared circular giving definitions
of technical terms used in mint regula-
tons. and other useful explanations Of
coinage matters. \ coin is said to lie
proof when it is specially struck Ivy
hand press. instead of steam press, from
a polished planchet, and proof set is
IA complete set of proofs of current coins.
y pattern piece i, an early specill,
of proof from a newly adopted colla-.
die OF dies. An impression i'll sol, metal
to test an experimental die is called a
trial piece.
When piece is struck from regular
dies on experimental metal or alloy. or
from experimental dies with experiment
tai legends. Geyices or designs. it is de-
nominated an experimental piece.
Trial AID experimental pieces. struck for
mint purposes only. will not be issued,
circulated or sold. Pieces popularity
known as re~trikes, false metal pieces
and metallic replicas. or copies, are pro
hibited by the revised statutes. Proof
and pattern pieces are sold 10y the super
intendent of the mint The superintend-
ent will furnish without charge a pat
tern piece to any Incorporated numismatic
society in the United States. In such
cases, if the pattern be in gold or silver
the value of the metal will he required
Philadelphia Record.